Beauty 360 - Now Online

CVS Pharmacy recently introduced e-commerce capabilities for Beauty 360, its prestige beauty retail store, making the Beauty 360 shopping experience accessible online for customers nationwide. Beauty 360 retail locations, which launched in November 2008, are adjacent to select CVS locations and provide convenient access to a wide and varied assortment of prestige cosmetic, skin care, hair care, fragrance, and grooming brands. Go next door for your Maybelline and Eucerin; pop into Beauty 360 for your Phillip B!

Currently, Beauty 360 has eight locations around the country and will continue to grow with additional locations opening throughout 2010. With the new e-commerce site, customers nationwide can take advantage of one-stop-shopping for everyday necessities and prescriptions, as well as their favorite prestige beauty products from top beauty brands through a shared shopping basket across both cvs.com and beauty360.com. [This is the model adopted by drugstore.com and beauty.com.]

"CVS Pharmacy has always been a leader in beauty, and launching the Beauty 360 concept was a milestone for us in being able to provide our customers with greater access to the prestige beauty products they love," said Mike Bloom, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Supply Chain for CVS. "With the introduction of e-commerce for Beauty 360, we are making shopping for these luxury beauty products more convenient for everyone - especially the nearly six million customers who visit cvs.com each month."

Beauty 360 shoppers will also reap the benefits of the CVS ExtraCare Rewards program, the largest retail loyalty program in the world, which provides 2% money back on all purchases, among other benefits. Beauty360.com offers prestige beauty favorites across the skin care, cosmetics, hair care, and men's grooming categories from brands that include Vincent Longo, Philip B, Canyon Ranch, Freeze 24.7, Cargo, Bioelements, Neil George, Jack Black, Anthony Logistics for Men, Laura Geller, Paula Dorf, and BORBA Cosmetics.

To see the brands available at Beauty 360, click on this link. There you go! No CVS in your home state? Now you CVS-deprived friends have options!

Photos courtesy of Beauty 360
Press release courtesy of CVS

Vichy LIFTACTIV CxP Sampler Giveaway Contest

DrugstoreBeautyPro generously donated two deluxe sample sets of LIFTACTIV CxP Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Care for a one-day Best Things in Beauty giveaway contest. Wasn't that nice? We will have two winners!

Vichy's LIFTACTIV CxP products continuously release a pure dose of vitamin C and peptides (short chains of amino acids that reverse the signs of aging). Vitamin C is a powerful stimulant of the skin's vital functions, promoting cell renewal. Peptides are crucial for effective functioning of the skin's vital components; they play a key role in the creation of collagen and elastin fibers.

Anyone concerned with chronological aging, wrinkles, and loss of firmness should find the LIFTACTIV CxP products intriguing. You can read about them at Vichy's Web site.

Each of these darling little sample sets has four products.

• Purete Thermale One Step Cleanser (1 oz)
• LIFTACTIV CxP Day (.1 oz)
• LIFTACTIV CxP Night (.1 oz)
• LIFTACTIV CxP Eyes (.1 oz)

Vichy says that 88% of users felt firmer skin within four days of use, and you get at least four days from these deluxe samples. Vichy's products are suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

LIFTACTIV CxP and other Vichy products are available at CVS Healthy Skincare Stores, so if you like what you try, you can head over to CVS for more!

To enter the contest, e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and tell me why you would like to try these Vichy products. The deadline for entries is today, December 7, at midnight. The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Good Luck! Our two winners will also receive some other CVS healthy skin packette samples to try (also courtesy of DrugstoreBeautyPro).

P.S. Just in case you are new to BTiB, DrugstoreBeautyPro is a daily reader, and she is so knowledgeable. Her comments on this blog have been informative, and I look forward to her contributions.

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Discounts Galore Today

What's a girl to do when she gets offers like this?

Today (and you can still call Neiman Marcus and ask for Carol Summer at Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie at (202) 966-9700), you can 20% off all Laura Mercier! Check out the gift sets, which are great values. This is an incredible sale.

The Skinny's sale of Organic Apoteke products started today. Here is your invitation to join The Skinny. Organic Apoteke is a line of rejuvenating products that are said to make your skin feel new and fresh. The star of the Organic Apoteke line, Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum ("rasayana" is actually Sanskrit for "rejuvenating"), combines the benefits of six serums in one. In clinical trials of over 400 participants, wrinkles were reduced by 60%, sagging by 21%, and trans-epidermal water loss by 44% over an eight-week period. Check out the Organic Apoteke products at this video. I want Sicilian Orange & Mandarin Body Oil ($23.50). Hope I can get there before it sells out. I've been peeling out the credit card a lot today.

It's Lierac Day at CVS. If you have a CVS Healthy Skincare Store near you, stop by before they close. They have lots of great samples. Hydra-Chrono Balm and Creme Mesolift are two of my favorite moisturizers, and their price is right! Just ask Kathy Shoreman at (703) 243-8088 or your local CVS Beauty Manager what Lierac product is best for you.

Last, but not least, BeautyTicket is having a 20% off sale of all YSL. Use code YSL20 at checkout. Today only.

I've been saving money by spending money!

Photo courtesy of The Skinny

Best Drugstore Beauty: CVS.com Discount

People StyleWatch published a super beauty discount for CVS.com! Until November 26, use code PSWCVS for a 20% discount on all full-priced beauty tools, fragrance, hair care and color, makeup, nail care, skin care, and more.

This is the perfect time to check out the "healthy skin care brands," Vichy, La Roche-Posay, and Lierac. We have written about many of these products here at Best Things in Beauty. A 20% discount on these brands is a great deal!

The discount is not available in CVS stores, and it's not valid on prescription items.


Photo courtesy of People StyleWatch

Best Drugstore Beauty: Vichy's Exfoliating Cream

Vichy makes a fabulous Exfoliating Cream ($16) for dry and sensitive skin. It's labeled for all skin types, but if you have dry and/or sensitive skin, it's a good one to try.

What's in a name? I bought this product about six months ago, and it was called Purifying Exfoliating Cream. Now it appears to have another name in the United States: Detoxifying Exfoliating Cream. I have compared the ingredient lists of the two, and they are the same. Buy whichever you find. Update 10/24: Detoxifying is the old name. The new name is Purifying! Kathy Shoreman at CVS cleared that up for me!

This is an extremely gentle physical exfoliator. It's loaded with good stuff for your skin, including Vitamin E, shea butter, soybean oil, and Vichy's Thermal Spa Water, which is rich with mineral salts and oligo elements. The little exfoliating beads are jojoba pearls, said to be perfectly round so that they won't produce what I call micro-tears in the skin. It's hypoallergenic, alcohol-free, soap-free, and colorant-free.

The minute you apply this cream, you'll notice its rich, creamy feel. I can't use many physical exfoliators because my skin is so sensitive, but this one has never irritated my skin - not a trace of redness after using it. I wet my face, lightly massage it in using circular movements for about a minute, and then thoroughly rinse it off. It leaves me with smooth, clear, and radiant skin.

The container is small (2.5 ounces), but a little of this luxurious cream exfoliator goes a long way. I think this product is a little treat, and I love the fact that I can get it at CVS.

You can find Vichy's Exfoliating Cream at CVS, Vichy's Web site, and other stores that carry Vichy products.

Photo courtesy of CVS

Best Drugstore Beauty: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm

Vichy's new Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm Rehydrating and Repairing Care ($32) is a powerful moisturizer. Packed with the healing signature Vichy Thermal Spa Water and minerals, this protective formula is paraben-, fragrance-, and colorant-free. This product is prefect for women (and men) with dry and/or dehydrated skin. I'm finding it an ideal "antidote" for our leap into dry fall weather.

You may have read about new Vichy introductions in an earlier Best Things in Beauty posting. The balm contains Omega 6 oils that are said to reach into tiny skin fissures and envelope the skin in a fine protective layer. The 15 trace elements and minerals in its ingredients include calcium and magnesium (protective), potassium (hydrating), silicium (regenerating), and iron (soothing).

I am using the Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm as a night moisturizer. It's creamy and rich. Trust me, a little goes a long way! I adore the pump container, which makes it so convenient to use, and I love the fact that it's fragrance-free. I can feel the protective barrier on my face when I awaken in the morning, so I know the balm is doing its work to keep my own moisture in and protect my skin from the drying air.

Vichy says the mineral balm can also be used as a mask to soothe very dehydrated skin. If you choose to use it as a mask, apply a generous layer on skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then tissue off the excess. You certainly wouldn't want to tissue it all off - it's a fabulous moisturizer.

You can purchase the Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm at the Vichy-USA Web site, where Vichy Skin Care Passport Members get free shipping with purchases over $50, free shipping with the purchase of certain products, and with the code TOTEBAG can get a turquoise tote with a purchase of $65.

You can also find Vichy products at the CVS Healthy Skincare stores (larger CVS stores), where you won't have to worry about shipping costs and you can get instant gratification. If you can find your way to the Ballston Mall in Arlington, Virginia, ask for Kathy Shoreman, the CVS Beauty Manager. She will give you samples of Vichy products to try at home.

This product deserves its Best Drugstore Beauty label.

Photo courtesy of Vichy USA

Vichy Calming Cleansing Solution for Face and Eyes

Ever want to clean up without using water? How about on those makeup-free Sundays, when you want to go to sleep feeling clean and fresh, but just can't face (no pun intended) the full face-wash routine? Vichy has the cleanser for you!

Calming Cleansing Solution ($14) is a soap-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, colorant-free, gentle, lightweight cleansing lotion that gently lifts makeup, excess oil, sunscreen, and anything else that shouldn't remain on your skin. It calms your skin, while leaving its natural moisture barrier in place. The solution contains a rose extract rich in phytophenol, known for its soothing properties. It also contains Vichy Thermal Spa Water, rich in mineral salts and oligo essentials with proven soothing properties that strengthen the skin's natural protective function. This is an excellent product for sensitive or irritated skin. You can use it as an eye makeup remover too! This cleanser is a good one for men and women. Just put it on a cotton pad and wipe gently.

I was introduced to it at my local CVS Healthy Skincare store. Ever since, it's been a bathroom staple.

Vichy became part of the L'Oreal group in 1955, and today it is L'Oreal's second largest skin care brand, currently is distributed in more than 70 countries and a leading dermo-cosmetics brand in European and Canadian pharmacies. In the last few years, Vichy has worked to bring the brand to the U.S. market by securing space within the in-store skin care boutiques at select CVS, Ulta, and Duane Reade locations.

Vichy has a U.S. Web site where you can get an express or full skin analysis. CVS Healthy Skincare stores also offer that service. I'll be reviewing another fabulous Vichy product soon: the new Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm.

The Vichy Web site has free shipping and a sampling offer until October 9. Of course, you could just stop by your local CVS and learn more about this wonderful French company. CVS has samples too.

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Maybelline's Rep at CVS

Mabelline's representative for the CVS stores, Nicolette Dickman, is making the rounds. She's new to the job and a nice, young woman who loves her products! Since I wear Mabelline's Define-A-Lash Mascara, which I think is better than the best-selling Great Lash, I trekked over to talk to her.

Maybelline has some new products, including Sensational, their fabulous new lipsticks and lip glosses. They are also pushing battery-operated mascara wands (not my thing). One new product that interests me? Their Expert Wear Eye Shadow Quads, available in 12 coordinated color families. I saw a photo of a smokey eye palette and results in one of the new magazines, and I think the price is right for me to try out these smoldering eye colors without breaking the bank. Even if I don't wear the darker shades, the two lightest colors will look good on me.

Maybelline is one of the top mass-market beauty brands. Less expensive than the other leaders, Maybelline cosmetics are a good value. Naturally, you can buy Maybelline at drugstores, online, supermarkets, and superstores like Target. There are usually BOGO offers and coupons galore! I came home with some coupons I'll be using.

Photo courtesy of Maybelline.

Lierac Gentle Cleansing Milk

Here I go again - raving over a Lierac Paris product! I have been using Lierac's "Lait Demaquillant Douceur," or Gentle Cleansing Milk ($26), for four or five months. I use it most nights to remove my makeup and get ready for my bedtime skin care regimen. The cleanser is made for dry and sensitive skin, and I can testify that my dry, sensitive skin likes it. It cleans without stripping my skin of its natural moisture (and there isn't much of that left!).

The cleanser easily removes all makeup except for the tiny residue of mascara under my eyes, and no gentle cleanser I use removes that. I follow with a quick swipe of eye makeup remover. After cleansing, my skin feels soft and smooth. Of course, I love the convenient pump dispenser. Who really wants to fumble with a screw cap at the end of a tiring day?

The Gentle Cleansing Milk includes moisturizing agents, calming and softening poppy and calendula extracts, and hyaluronic acid (very good) - and it's alcohol-free (even better). The brochure that comes with it says that the cleanser is based on "ultra-gentle surfactants that respect the skin's hydro-lipidic film and pH level." Works for me!

I love the fact that I can pop up to my CVS Healthy Skincare Store to buy more when I run out. No time-consuming trips to the mall! Not that I don't love to get in a little shopping now and then, but if I need a daily necessity, I want to be able to get my hands on it quickly. You may find this product called Gentle Makeup Remover Lotion (drugstore.com). I'm not sure about that translation since I do remember from my school days that lait is milk.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, I think you'll like this Lierac cleanser.

Photo courtesy of CVS.

Vichy Set to Introduce New Products for Dry Skin

The French skin care line Vichy, owned by L'Oreal, will introduce four new products this month. Of particular interest to me are the products for dry skin.

Aqualia Mineral Balm will be the first purchase on my list. The thick cream contains a highly concentrated amount of Vichy’s signature thermal spa water, naturally enriched with 15 trace elements and mineral salts. This active product is designed for dehydrated skin and is free of parabens, fragrances, and preservatives. Even better, it will be available in a pump dispenser (love that!) and will retail for $35.

There will also be two new Liftactiv products, including an SPF 20 lotion and Liftactiv CxP Dry Skin Formula, a cream designed especially for chapped or leathery skin. Like the other products in the Liftactiv CxP line, these two products contain peptides and vitamin C to help fortify new fiber-producing cells. Both products will retail for $43. Don't fear when you read terms such as "chapped" and "leathery" - that's just marketing speak for dry or really dry.

Vichy is available at upscale drugstores, such as CVS Healthy Skincare Stores, and Vichy USA.

Photo courtesy of CVS.